Rapid-fire gun



C. W. LANG.

RAPID FIRE GUN..

APPLICATION FILED maize. I917.

1,359,608. Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Quezon? C. W. LANG.

RAPID FIRE GUN.

APPLICATIONJILED FEB. 26, 1911.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. W.- LANG. RAPID FIRE gun.

Patented Nov. 23,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- APPUCATION FILED FEB. 26, I917.

iii.

Ill-ll lvllllr C. .W. LANG.

RAPID FIRE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26. I911.

1,359,608. Patented Nov. 23, 1920'. w, J 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4'.

Quanta! I earn sr ears RAPID -FIEE GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov, 23, 1920.

Original application filed; May 16, 1916, Serial No. 97,886. Divided and. this application filed. February 26, 1917. Serial No. 151,025.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern- Be it known'that 1, CHARLES V. LANG, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and usefullm provements in Rapid-Fire Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This application is divided out of, my pending application filed day 16th, 1916, Serial No. 97,886, and reiates particularly to gun mounts and their associated parts, and while embodying features of novelty which are adapted, severally and collectively, for embodiment in various types of automatic firearms, is designed primarily for and will be herein illustrated as embodied in a rifle caliber rapid fire gun adapted to be operated semi-automatically, or with full automatic rapid fire at will.

Some features of the invention relate to the eneral construction and assembly of the main parts of the gun, whereby the construction of the gun as a whole is simplified, the assembly and disassembly of its parts is rendered more convenient, and the parts, therefore, made more readily replaceable, and the endurance of the gun and its capac ity to resist adverse conditions in service are enhanced. Other features of the invention relate to mechanisms whereby the gun is adapted to function in certain novel ways with advantageous results.

For the purpose of making known theun derlying principles as well as the characteristics of structure and cooperative relationship which identify the various features of the invention, reference will be madeto the embodiment disclosed in the drawings formwith the barrel, its cooling flue and the gas-actuated mechanism for functioning the gun, in vertical axial section, the grip frame and fire-controlling mechanism being omitted, and the breech closure shown in side parts of its axially divided vertical trunnion yoke separated therefrom. I

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 7 of Fig. 2.

1 represents the receiver, 2 the grip, 3 the trunnions, i the magazine, 5 the barrel which is threaded into the receiver at 6, 7 the cooling flue surrounding the barrel, 8 the suction blast for inducing circulation through the cooling flue, 9 the housing for the gasactuated mechanism, 10 the housing for the drive rods which function the breech mechanism, 1l the fire-selecting tumbler, and'12 the breech block buffer cap. The present invention resides in various features of novelty having to do with the several parts of the gun just enumerated, or with the manner of relating them one to another, or the manner of incorporating them in the organization as a whole, as will now be pointed out both generally and in detail, in the following description and particularly defined in the subjoined claims.

One object of the present invention is to mount a gun of the type described, withincreased stability against vertical deflection resulting from firing, to which end, one feature of the invention consists in locating the trunnions 3 of the gun close to the center of stability of the entire mass and in the horizontal plane of the bore; and since this cen-' ter of stability in a gun of the type herein selec ed forpurposes .of illustration will generally lie forward of the front end of the receiver, another feature cons1sts 1n securing these trunn ons to the receiver through means of forwardly extending arms 3 ly-' ing on either side 'ofthebarrel; while asubordinate feature, in this connection, consists in connecting these forwardly extending trunnion arms with the receiver through means of an integral trunnion ring 8 screwed tightly into the forward end of the receiver 1 concentrically with the barrel 5;

and another subordinate feature consists in 1 tion of air.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for ready assembly of the barrel with the receiver in a gun, in which a longi-- tudinally reciprocating mechanism, mounted beneath the barrel and having connec tions extending into the receiver, is employed for functioning the breech mechanism; to which end, another feature of the present invention consists in connecting the barrel with the receiver through means of a readily releasable screw thread. 6 (preferably a mutilated thread), and utilizing the air flue tube 7 to lock the barrel against unscrewing relatively to the receiver, by providing thereon a spline 7 entering a seat 3 in the trunnion ring and barrel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an efiicient cooling air fiue around the barrel and subject it to the blasting effect of the powder gases escaping from the muzzle end; to which end, another feature of the invention consists in combining with a barrel 5 having a cir cumferential series of longitudinal, radiating ribs 5, a surrounding jacket or tube 7 spaced from its radiating ribs except at isolated points 5 so that heating of the jacket by direct conductivity is restricted sufficiently to keep the jacket cool enough to handle at all times; the forward end 7*" of the acket being subject to the suction of the blast of discharge, and its rear end 7 being-provided with a circumferential series ofradial opening slots 7, some of which, to avoid choking the air intake, are fed through corresponding openings 8 in the overlapping trunnion arms; while subardinate features in this connection consist in introducing the rear end of the jacket between an enlargement 5 on. the barrel an:l the trunnion ring 3*; also in providing at an intermediate transverse plane in the length of the jacket, spacing lugs 5 upon the outer edges of the ribs with which the jacket may contact; also in utilizing the gas connection fitting 13 on the forward.

' portion of the barrel as the means for spacing the forward end 7 of the jacket 7 and resisting its longitudinal movement; the protrusion of the gas fitting through the underside of the jacket, as shown at 7 in Figs. 1' and 2*, serving to also prevent ro tation of the jacket on the barrel. Still a further feature in this connection consists in providing this gas'fitting with longitudinal passages .13 (see Fig. 7) forming outlets for the forward fiow of the cooling air, and fitting thereto a blasting shell 8* terminating forward of the muzzle of the gun, and which coacts with a flaring nozzle 8 applied to the muzzle; the effect of these parts being to induce a flow of air longitudinally through the cooling jacket in sufficient quantity to convey away the heat radiated from the cooling ribs, and keep the heat of the barrel within permissible limits.

The shell 8 is preferably mounted on the threaded nut 8 that forces the gas-fitting member rearward upon its tapered seat, through which it makes a ground fit upon the barrel, while the front portion of the shell is sustained in spaced relation to the nozzle 8 by means of the spider 8 which is carried by the nozzle. Nozzle 8 has a sliding fit upon the end of the barrel, so

that shell 8*, nozzle 8*, nut 83 and spider 8 constitute a single structure which may be applied or removed by merely rotating the shell and screwing the nut on or off the barrel. The gas fitting 13, which supports the forward end of the cooling jacket 7, carries the front sight 14 and receives the rear end of the shell 8, and has suitable openings for passage of cooling air, while nut 8 has openings 8, and the spider 8 has openings 8 for the same purpose.

The front sight 14 is mounted upon the gas fitting through the medium of the pintle 14*, and is controlled by a spring plunger 14; to hold it in either of its normal positions, which plunger is constructed in the form of a cylindrical box for its spring and is mounted in the gas fitting in position to thrust its controlling end into either of the notches 14?, 14 of the sight, according to the position the latter occupies. The plunger 14* serves the further purpose of locking the shell 8 against unscrewing movement, for which purpose it is provided with a lug 14 that will engage in one of the notches of the shell whenever the sight is being held by the plunger; but a swell 14" on the heel of the sight between the notches 1 1' and 14 momentarily presses the lug 1 1- out of locking relation to the shell 8 asthe sight passes from one position to the other, so that if the sight be voluntarily arrested in such intermediate position, the shell can be unscrewed.

A further object is to provide an eflicient support for the horizontal trunnions of the gun and to adapt this support to be conveniently assembled with the trunnions; to which end, another feature consists in providing an axially divided vertical trunnion 15 adapted to fit into the socket of a tripod or other mounting (not shown), said vertical trunnion being formed with arms 15 with horizontal trunnion bearings 15*, so as to make up a yoke in which the gun can rest. And a further objectv is to afford, through means of this support, a yielding resistance to elevation movements of the ceiver 1.

the divided yoke with recesses which,

together, form'a 'guide or slideway for a radius arm 16, pivoted at 16 to the re- To maintain friction on the radius arm in its slideway, a spring-pressed disk 15 is provided. The dividing of the yoke facilitatesintroduction of the radius arm into its slideway, as well as the fitting of the yoke members to the horizontal trun- 111OI1S. I I

A gas control valve 13 is mounted in the member 13 and valve 13 has a plurality of preferably radially disposed and sectorshaped recesses 13 13, of. large and small capacity, respectively, each adapted to be positioned to intersect the duct by proper rotary adjustment of the valve through its squared end 13. 13 represents'thesduct, in the gas fitting, which communicates with the recess 13' and 13; The forward end of the spring chamber 9 has a threaded seat 13 in the gas fitting 13. The piston 9 delivers its work through the rod 9 1. In a gun having a'receiver and a barrel Vmounted therein; 'trunnions located forward of the receiver but having means supporting them directly in the receiver.

2. In a gun having a receiver and a barrel mounted therein; trunnions located forward of the receiver but having means supporting them directly in the receiver; said means comprising arms extending from the trunnions rearwardly to the receiver.

. In a gun having areceiver and a barrel mounted therein; trunnions located forward of the receiver but'having means supporting them directly in the receiver; said means comprising arms extending from the trunnions rearwardly to the receiver, and a trunnion ring carrying said arms and mounted in the forward end of the receiver. f

4c. 7 In a gunhaving a receiver and a barrel mounted therein; trunnions located forward of the receiverbntfhavin'g means supporting them directly in the rece1ver; sa1d'means "comprising" arms extending from the trunnions rearwardly to the receiver, and a trunnion ring 'carryin gsaid arms and mounted in the forward end of the receiver-between the barrel and thesurr'ou'nding wall offthe receiver. p

5. Ina gun having horizontal trunnions, a trunnion support comprising a vertically divided yoke having arms with trunnionbeari ngs adapted to be placed over the trunniens of the gun, in assembling, and having a divided shank through which the arms are held in fixed relation. 7

6. In a gun having horizontal trunnions, a trunnion support comprising a vertically divided yoke having arms with trunnionbearings adapted to be placed over the trunnion for'the gun.

porting them directly in the receiver;

nions of the gun, in assembling, and having a dividedshank through which the arms are held in fixed relation; sa-id' divided shank forming, when assembled, a vertical trun- 7O 7. In a gun having horizontal trunnions, a trunnion support comprising a vertically divided yoke having arms with trunnionbearingsadapted' to be placed over the trunnions of the gun, in assembling, and having a divided shank through which the arms are held inifixed relation; said support having in the meeting faces of its members, recesses forming a radius-bar slideway.

8. In a gun having horizontal trunnions, a trunnion support comprising a vertically divided yoke having arms with trunnionbearings adapted'to be placed over the trunnions of the gun, in assembling, and having a divided shank through which the arms are held in fixed relation; said support having in the meeting faces of its members, recesses forming a radius-bar slideway, and a friction member carried thereon in position to act upon a radius-bar. v-

9. In a gun having horizo ntal trunnions, a trunnionsupport comprising a vertically divided yoke having arms with trunnion- .bearings adapted'to be placed over the trun- 10. In a gun having a receiver and a bar-' 'rel mounted therein; trunnions located forward of the receiver but'having means supsaid means comprising arms extending from the '1-10 trunnions rearwardly'tothe receiver, and a trunnion ring; carrying said arms I and mounted in the forward end of the receiver;

saidringbeing constructed to afforda seat for a cooling jacket and said gun having a..l15 i cooling acket mounted on said seat.

11. In a gun havinga receiver and a barrel mounted thereinytrunnions located forward of the receiver but having means supporting them dlrectly in the receiver; saidf means comprising arms extending from the trunnions rearwardly tothe receiver, and a trunnion ring carrying said arms and mounted in the forward end of the receiver; said ring being constructed to afford a seat for a cooling jacket and said gun having a cooling jacket mounted on said seat; said cooling jacket having a circumferential series of radially presented intake apertures forward of said ring.

7 forward of said ring, and said trunnion arms having openings to afford access of air to those apertures overlapped thereby.

13-. In a gun. having a receiver, a barrel screwed thereinto, and a cooling jacket sur rounding the barrel; an interlock between the receiver and barrel, resisting unscrewing of the latter; said interlock being carried on and introduced by the cooling jacket.

14L In a gun having a receiver, a' barrel screwed'thereinto, and a cooling jacket surrounding the barrel; an interlock between thereceiver and barrel, resisting unscrewing of the latter; said interlock beingcarriecl on and introduced by the cooling jacket; said interlockcomprising-a non-rotating connection between the jacket and the barrel, and a spline on the-jacket entering a seatbearing a fixed relation to the receiver.

15. In a rapid fire gun, a barrelliaving heat radiating ribs, a cooling jacket surrounding said barrel and spaced from said ribs, and bearings of restricted contact-section supporting thejacket at intervals, in

its spaced relation to the ribs.

16. In a rapid fire gun, a barrel having heat radiating ribs, a cooling jacket surroundin said barrel ands'paced from said -ribs, anc bearings of restricted contact-section supporting the jacket at intervals, in its spaced relation to the ribs; said bearings comprising lu s on the cooling ribs.

17. In a rapidv re gun having a barrel and a jacket providing a cooling flue-therefor; a barrel ring supporting the forward end ofthe jacket, having longitudinal passages therein forming a continuation of the cooling flue, and a blast shell projecting forwardly-from said ring' and in suction rela 'tion to said 'flu'e; said blast shell carrying a spacing ring adjacent to said ;gun r1ng.

18. In a rapidfire gun hav ng a barrel and a jacket providing a cooling flue therefor; a barrel ringsupporting the forward end of the jacket, having longitudinal passages therein forming a continuation of the cooling flue, and a blast shell projecting forwardly from said rin and in suction relation to said flue; said last shell carrying a spacing ring adjacent to said gun ring, and a spacing ring at its forward end.

19. In a rapid fire gun having a barrel and a jacket forming a cooling fiue for said barrel; a blast shell adapted to the forward end of the barrel in suction relation to said flue, said blast shell having a forward spacing ring and a nozzle connected with the shell throughsaid ring, and fitted to the gun barrel. I

20. In a rapid fire gun having abarrel and a jacket forming a cooling flue for said barrel; a blast shell adapted to the forward end of the barrel in suction relation'to said flue, said blast shell having a, forward spacing ring and a nozzle connected with the shell through said ring, and fitted to the gunzbarrel, said shell also having a rear spacing ring fitted to and threaded on the barrel. i v

21. In a rapid fire gun having a barrel, :1 jacket forming a coolin flue for said barrel, and a barrel ring; a b ast shell screwed to saidbarrelforward of said ring, a latch on said ring preventing unscrewmgl of said shell, and a sight on said ring adapted to release said latch;

22. Ina rapid fire un' having a barrel, a jacket forminga coofing fine for said barrel, and a barrel ring; a blast shell screwed to said barrel forward of said ring, a latch on said ring .preventingunscrewin of said shell, and a sight on said ring a apted to release said latch; said latch having a spring normally pressing it into locking position,

and said spring coacting with the sight to hold it in adjusted position.

'23. In a rapid fire'gun having a barrel, a jacket forming a cooling flue for said barrel, and a barrel ring; a blast shell screwed to said barrel forward of said ring, a latch on said ring preventing unscrewing of said shell, and a sight on said rin adapted. to release said latch; said late having a spring normally pressing it into Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, thi s l 21st day of-,-February,' 1917.

LCHARLEISWELINGTON LANG. 

